Traction-increaser for locomotives



(NO Model.) O

O G. RICHARDSON.

TRACTION INGREASER FOR LOCOMOTIVES. f v N 352,005. Patented NOV; 2,-1 886.

loads 6.?187/1711902;

N. PETERS. FholmLilhflgnpMr. Wnhinglon. D. C.

" U ITED; STATES PATENT OFFIC LOUIS G. RICHARDSON, on romsno, onio.

TRAo'Tm Nc EAsEe FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIPICATIONfoIming part of Letters Patent No. 352,005, dated November 2, 1886,

Application filed March 22,1886. .Serial No. 190,141. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS G. RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at T- ledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Increasers for Locomotives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact-description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for increasing the traction of the drive-wheels of locomojecting a short distance beneath the floor of the cab, provided at their forward end with a cam or lever, an operatingcylinder having its piston-rod connected to the said cam or lever, and a step or bracket attached to the under side of the cab, upon which step the cam or lever rests, and upon which a portion of the weight of the tender is brought, and thus transferred to the drive-wheels of the locomotive; and, further, the invention consists in various novel details of construction whereby the objects of the invention are attained.

I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawing, in which the figure represents a side elevation of those parts of thecab andtender to which the, traction-increaser is attached, showing the device in position for use.

In the drawing, A represents the floor of the cab, and B represents the floor of the tender, the contiguous faces of which are provided with r the usual bumpers.

0 represents bars, preferably of metal,which are secured to the under side of the tender by means of suitable hangers, a and c. When the locomotive and tender are coupled, the bars extend a short distance beneath the cab, and at the point to which they extend I provide a hanger or step, D, which is rigidly attached to the under side of the cab, and extends downward a sufficient distance to bring its crosspiece d about on a level with the bar 0. A bell-crank lever, E, is pivoted to the front end of the supporting-rod 0, and the forward end of this lever is provided with a bowl, 6, which, when all the parts are in operative position, bears on the cross-piece d of the hanger D.

In order that the bell-crank lever may not become displaced by jarring of the parts to which it is applied, I provide the two springs F,which arecoiled around the pin upon which the lever is mounted-one on each side of the lever. The free ends of these springs bear against pins f and f, placed upon opposite sides of the supporting-bar, and as the ends of these springs project in opposite directions from the lever, the latter is held in its normal position unless moved therefrom by its operating mechanism.

The device is operated by means of an oscillating cylinder, G, which is mounted between the supporting-bars, and is supplied with steam or compressed air through suitable ports, whereby its piston is moved. The piston-rod G of the cylinder preferably curves downward,.as shown, and is pivotally connected to the lower end of the bell-crank lever.

is admitted into the cylinder in advance of the piston, thus forcing the latter rearward. This motion of the piston carries the lower end of the bell-crank leverrearward and depresses the forward end thereof, thus elevating the supporting-rod, and consequently the forward end of the tender, and bringing a portion of the weight thereof upon the drive-wheels of the loco motive and materially increasing their traction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a means for increasing the traction of the drive-wheels of locomotives, the combinacarrying the bell-crank lever, and operatingcylinder having its piston connected to the tion, with the tender, of the supporting-bar.

In the operation of the device steam or air ICO said lever, and the step secured to the under IO the supporting-bur, and the step secured to the under side of the cab, upon which step the forward end of the bell-crank lever rests, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS G. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

KATE D. CHASE, HERBERT A. Ormsn. 

